For years now, the so-called experts have told you to avoid the foods you love. That you're supposed to ditch the weight room and jog your way to maximum fitness. And that testosterone -- the hormone that makes you a man -- is actually a problem for you, rather than the solution to your problems. In the meantime, American men have kept getting fatter and more frustrated. Which is why we've looked into all this, and from what we've learned, we can tell you -- the know-it-alls are know-nothings.

The Testosterone Advantage Plan is about realizing your full potential as a man, and will

• show you how nature intended you to eat.

• explain how the male body differs in its nutritional needs from the female body -- especially when it comes to the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that are not bad for you.

• give you a superior workout regimen to help you attain the muscular physique you've always wanted.

• explain how you can boost your testosterone and energy levels naturally, without supplements or quick-fix fads.

• help you tick off the long list of benefits you'll likely reap in terms of energy and enthusiasm, power and potency, confidence and charisma.

This much you know: What you've done in the past hasn't worked. Why not try it our way? You have everything to gain -- and nothing to lose except your gut.
Amazon.com
Wide shoulders, narrow waist, thick chest, muscular arms and legs: today's male ideal physique is the same as that of ancient Greece. Aerobics and the Food Pyramid just won't yield that shape, argues Lou Schuler, certified strength-and-conditioning specialist and fitness director of Men's Health magazine. For weight loss and the Greek physique, he proposes the "T" (testosterone) plan: weightlifting and a diet of 33 percent each carbs (mostly low-glycemic-index), fat (the "good" kind), and protein; no alcohol; and minimal sweets and processed food. The book includes a meal planner, grocery list, and recipes. A 100-page, clearly illustrated weightlifting program progresses from circuit training to bodybuilding to power lifting, with both home and gym exercises.

This research-based program was tested on 16 willing, hefty guys. After nine weeks, they lost an average of 18 pounds, dropped waist inches, gained strength and energy, and improved their sex lives. The book includes before-and-after photos and quotes from the happy campers.

Schuler's man-to-man style is clear, direct, and witty ("one gorilla wearing a stringy tank in July is all it takes to leave a bench soaked in ectoplasm"). The Testosterone Advantage Plan is recommended for men willing to commit to a rigorous lifting program to achieve their ideal physique. --Joan Price